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Hawaii Native Language |
English and Hawaiian are two official languages in the Hawaii State. Therefore most
Hawaii's residents speak English and some Hawaii native language.
Hawaiian native culture is beautiful and romantic. So many famous movies and
Hawaiian songs include some presentations of Hawaiian native language. Today most
Hawaii's residents, including people came from US mainland and other countries,
speak some Hawaiian in their daily life.
The alphabet of Hawaii language consists of only 12 letters: five vowels - a, e, i, o, u, and seven consonants - h, k, l, m, n, p, w.
Every syllable ends in a vowel, every vowel is pronounced. The following table lists some common and useful Hawaiian words and phrases that you will often hear in Hawaii.
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A
E
H
I
K
L
M
N
O
P
U
W
Phrases
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Glossary of Hawaiian Words
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Hawaiian
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Pronunciation
|
English Meaning
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A
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| ahi |
ahee |
fire |
| 'ahi |
ahee |
tuna fish |
| 'ai |
aye |
yes |
| ai |
eye |
eat |
| akamai |
ah-kah-my |
smart, intelligent, knowledgeable |
| 'alana |
ah-lah-nah |
church |
| 'alani |
ah-lah-nee |
orange |
| alanui |
al-lah-noo-ee |
road, street |
| ali'i |
ah-lee-ee |
the old royalty of Hawaii |
| aloha |
ah-low-hah |
hello, love, goodbye |
| aloha'ole |
ah-low-hah-ohlay |
without love |
| 'anakala |
ah'-nah-kah'-lah |
uncle |
| 'anake |
ah-nah-keh' |
aunt, aunty |
| aole |
ah-oh-lay |
no |
| auwe |
ow-way |
alas, woe |
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Hawaiian
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Pronunciation
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English Meaning
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E
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| 'eha |
ay-ha |
pain |
| 'elima |
ay-lee-mah |
five |
| 'elua |
ay-lew-ah |
two |
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H
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| halakahiki |
hah-lah-kah-hee-kee |
pineapple |
| halau |
hah-lau |
school |
| hale |
hah-lay |
house |
| haole |
how-lay |
Caucasian, foreigner |
| hapa |
hah-pah |
half, part |
| hauoli |
how-oh-lee |
happiness |
| he'i |
hey-ee |
papaya |
| heiau |
hey-ee-au |
temple |
| hoaloha |
ho-ah-low-hah |
friend |
| holoholo |
ho-low-ho-low |
ride around/walk around for fun |
| honi |
ho-nee |
to kiss |
| hoku |
ho-koo |
star |
| honu |
ho-new |
turtle |
| honua |
ho-new-ah |
land, earth |
| hui |
hoo-ee |
union, corporation, club |
| huhu |
hoo-hoo |
angry |
| hukilau |
hoo-kee-lau |
fishing festival, community fishing |
| hula |
hoo-lah |
Hawaiian dance, to dance |
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Hawaiian
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Pronunciation
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English Meaning
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I
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| ia |
ee-ah |
he, she, it |
| i'amaka |
ee-ah-ma-kah |
raw fish |
| 'i'i |
ee-ee |
tiny |
| iki |
ee-kee |
a little bit |
| imu |
ee-moo |
underground oven used to cook luau pig |
| inu |
ee-new |
to drink |
| ipo |
ee-po |
sweetheart |
| iwi |
ee-vee |
bone |
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K
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| ka'alawema'i |
ka-a-lah-vay-ma-ee |
ambulance |
| kai |
kye |
sea, ocean |
| kahuna |
ka-hoo-nah |
priest |
| kala |
kah-lah |
money |
| kalua |
kah-loo-ah |
to bake underground |
| kamaaina |
kah-mah-eye-nah |
old-timer, local |
| kane |
kah-nay |
man |
| kapa |
kah-pah |
tapa, bark cloth |
| kapu |
kah-poo |
keep out |
| kaukau |
kow-kow |
food |
| keiki |
kay-kee |
child |
| kokua |
ko-koo-ah |
help |
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L
|
| la |
lah |
Sun, day, light |
| lanai |
lah-nye |
porch |
| lani |
lah-nee |
sky, heaven |
| lei |
lay |
necklace of flowers |
| lua |
loo-ah |
bathroom |
| luau |
loo-ow |
feast |
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Hawaiian
|
Pronunciation
|
English Meaning
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M
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| mahalo |
mah-hah-low |
thank you |
| ma'ika'i |
mah-ee-kah-ee |
good, fine |
| malihini |
mah-lee-hee-nee |
newcomer, stranger |
| mele |
may-lay |
song |
| muumuu |
moo-oo-moo-oo |
Hawaiian long, loose dress |
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N
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| nalu |
nak-loo |
wave, to surf |
| nanea |
nah-nay-ah |
relaxing, fascinating |
| nani |
nan-nee |
lovely |
| niu |
nee-oo |
coconut |
| nui |
noo-ee |
big (mahalo nui = big thanks) |
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O
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| ohana |
oh-hah-nah |
family |
| ola |
oh-lah |
life, health |
| ono |
oh-no |
delicious, sweet taste |
| opu |
oh-poo |
belly, stomach |
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P
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| pakalaki |
pah-kah-lah-kee |
unlucky |
| pali |
pah-lee |
cliff |
| paniolo |
pah-nee-oh-low |
Hawaiian cowboy |
| pau |
pow |
finished |
| pilialoha |
pee-lee-ah-low-ha |
close friendship |
| pilikia |
pee-lee-kee-ah |
trouble |
| poi |
poy |
pounded taro root |
| puka |
poo-kah |
hole |
| punee |
poo-nay-ay |
couch |
| pupu |
poo-poo |
hors d'oeuvre |
| pupule |
poo-poo-lay |
crazy |
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U
|
| ua |
oo-ah |
rain |
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W
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| waha |
wah-hah |
mouth, speech |
| wahine |
wah-hee-nay |
woman, girl, female |
| wai |
why |
fresh water |
| wikiwiki |
wee-kee-wee-kee |
quickly |
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Some Hawaiian Phrases
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Hawaiian
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Pronunciation
|
English Meaning
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| Hele mai |
hey-lay my |
Come here |
| Komo mai e noho iho |
ko-mo my ay no-ho ee-ho |
Come in and sit down |
| No ke aloha |
no kay ah-low-hah |
For love |
| Aloha ahiahi |
ah-low-hah ah-hee-ah-hee |
Good evening |
| Aloha kakahiaka |
ah-low-hah kah-kah-hee-ah-kah |
Good morning |
| Aloha nui oe |
ah-low-hah noo-ee-oh-ay |
Greatest love to you |
| Hauoli la hanau |
hah-oo-oh-lee-lah hah-nah-oo |
Happy Birthday |
| Hauoli Makahiki Hou |
hah-oo-oh-lee man-kah-hee-kee ho-oo |
Happy New Year |
| Pehea oe? |
pay-hay-ah oh-ay |
How are you? |
| Ma'i ka'i |
mah-ee-kah-ee |
I am fine. |
| Ua kaumaha au |
oo-ah cow-mah-hah ow |
I am sorry. |
| Aloha wauia oe |
ah-low-hah vow-ee-ah oh-ay |
I love you. |
| Mele Kalikimaka |
may-lay kah-lee-kee-mah-kah |
Merry Christmas |
| Owai kau inoa? |
oh-why kah-oo ee-no-ah |
What is your name? |
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Destination Guide
